Teach Them To Be Silent

Can you die of boredom?

The teacher is teaching
The truths of the world
The students are weeping
Silently at their school desks
And casting their eyes to the map on the wall
Wishing to be anywhere but here.

There is no sound
Not even the teacher can hear
As the students' bodies twitch and curl
She doesn't know
What is happening here.

Heads roll back from small set shoulders
Parts uncouple, legs and torsos strewn
Across the room
You can now see their upturned faces
Staring at the teacher
Their attention finally, silently
undivided.

We learned something today
Though it is not what you sought
It turns out
Who would have thought?
That you can die of boredom
Silently.

The teacher survey's
With her sad tear-strewn galaxy in her eyes
"Well now at least I've got them
Their attention undivided
As they sit silently
Listen to me".